Envelop.



No. 884,317. PATENTBD APR. 7, 1908.

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BNVELOP.

urmoumn FILED MAR. 14. 1901.

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ELLSWORTH OOWEN, OF BARNESVILLE, OHIO.

ENVELOP.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1907.

Patented April '7, 1908.

Serial No. 362,394.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH OownN, citizen of the United I States, residing at Barnesville, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelops, and has for its main object to provide an envelop that cannot be opened without detection.

Another object resides in the provision of an envelop embodying a dual means of fastening the closure flap against opening.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consists in the com bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly referred to, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view of an envelop showing the closure flap unsealed to illustrate the auxiliary fastening means. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the envelop when sealed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the auxiliary fastener. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of auxiliary fastener. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through an envelop illustrating the modified form of auxiliary fastening when clenched.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character 1 indicates the body of an ordinary envelop including the usual end flaps 2 and the closure flap 3, the latter having the usual adhesive substance along its free edge. The apex of the closure flap is bent upon itself to embrace the body portion 4 of a thin metallic auxiliary fastening 5, preferably U-shaped whose legs 6 are designed to pass through the corres onding perforations 7 of the end flaps and clench within the envelop upon slight pressure to effect the sealing of the envelop. Thus, the ordinary envelop is provided with an auxiliary fastening whose office is to positively tear the envelop in an attempt by an unauthorized person to open the envelop. The only means neces sary to hold the auxiliary fastening in lace is the adhesive substance usually emp oyed i on the sealing flap of an ordinary envelop,

this adhesive substance being moistened and the closure flap turned back upon itself to anchor the fastening against accidental displacement. By forming the perforations 7 round instead of in slit form there is less danger of accidental tearing of the envelop.

In actual use the strip of thin metal from which the auxiliary fastener is formed may, if desired, lie in a straight plane throughout its length and be bent to form its legs 6 only when it is desired to seal the envelop. In any event the auxiliary fastener is hidden from view when the envelop is sealed.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the legs 6 of the auxiliary fastener are slitted throughout their lengths to form the fingers 8 adapted to lie upon opposite sides of the corresponding perforations in the body of the envelop, as shown in Fig. 6.

What is claimed is:

1. An envelop including a body, end flaps, a back flap and a closure flap, the closure flap having adhesive substance along its free edge to provide means for securing the closure flap against the back of the envelop and the end flaps having spaced perforations, and an auxiliary fastening means composed of a single piece of material and bent to form a U-shaped metal member having its legs disposed for insertion in the perforations in the end flaps and secured to the closure flap by folding the terminal of the closure flap over the body of the fastener between the legs of the latter and pasting the closure flap over the fastener by moistening the adhesive material with said legs projecting at right angles to the closure flap and adapted to enter the perforations in the end flaps when the envelop is closed and be turned aside by contact with the contents of the envelop u on pressure upon the fastening, the closure ap completely concealing the auxiliary fastener when closed.

2. An envelop including a body, end flaps, a back flap and a closure flap, the closure flap having adhesive substance along its free edge to provide means for securing the closure flap against the back of the envelop and the end flaps each having a perforation, said perforations being disposed in alinement when the end flaps are folded over the body of the envelop, and.an auxiliary fastening means comprising a U-shaped metal member having its legs disposed for insertion in the perforations in the end flaps and secured to the closure flap by folding the terminal ofthe latter over the body of the fastener and pasting it thereto by moistening the adhesive material of the closure flap with said legs of the fastener projecting at right angles to the closure flap and ada ted to enter the perforations in the end aps when the envelop is closed, the legs of the fastener being slit, whereby portions of each leg may be turned aside in opposite directions by contact with the contents of the envelop upon pressure upon the closure flap, the closure flap completely concealing the auxiliary fastener when the envelop is sealed.

3. An envelop including a body, end flaps, a back flap, and a closure flap, the closure fla having its edges converging to substantia ly a point and also having its edges provided W1th an adhesive substance for securing the closure flap against the back of the envelop, said end flaps each having a perforation formed therein, said perforations being arranged in alinement when the end flaps are folded over the body of the envelop and so disposed as to be hidden from view when the closure flap is sealed to the back of the envelop to conceal the contents of the latter, and an auxiliary fastening means composed of a single piece of material ada ted to be bent at its ends to provide spaced egs' for insertion in the corresponding erforations of the end flaps and secured to t e closure flap by folding the substantially pointed terminal of the closure flap over the auxiliary fastening means intermediate the ends of the latter and pasting it to the closure flap by moistening the adhesive material of the latter, said legs of the fastening means being clenched within the envelop by engagement With the contents of the latter when pressure is made upon the envelop to seal the same, the sealing of the envelop completely concealing the auxiliary fastening from view.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELLSWORTH COWEN. 

